2009 Toyota Highlander Limited: 30000-mile service maintenance

[FlyV]

I recently purchased a used 2009 Toyota Highlander limited with 26000 miles. I currently have 27600 miles on it. I called local toyota dealership here in Plano, TX for a quote on getting the 30000-mile recommended service and was quoted $540. Recommended service at this mile include oil and filter change, air filter change, carbin filter change (dealer sells for about $17.00), then a bunch of check this and check that. Is $540.00 about right for this service?
I called another foreign car repair shop and was quoted $181. I asked what they check and they repeated everything on the toyota's manual for 30000 mile service. Is there something to gain by paying extra to have this service done at toyota?
Toyota service guy even told me they flush coolant or brake fluid but that service is not recommended at 30000 miles. Can somebody with 2nd generation H/L give me their opinion on this? I want to save money but also want things done right. The other repair shop have ACE or something certified technicians and have been around for over 25yrs.

[TrailDust]

IMO, even if you included the differential and transfer case oil change if you do towing, that price is outrageous. Toyota is pretty ridiculous at the prices they charge for these servicing intervals, which is not much more than looking the vehicle over and robbing you of a few hundred dollars. Best thing you can do is seek out a trusted private mechanic in your area or do the work yourself. No way in hell I'd pay $540!

[sweeneyp]

I vote extreme That was about what I payed to have timing belts replacd on my old '99 Lexus LX470 with a V8, and also about the price to replace all the gaskets in that engine.

anyway, this is what is suppose to be done at 30k


It honestly shouldn't cost more than $80 (at least thats how much my 60k service was that is very similar to 30k). An oil change and multi-point inspection was $35 at my dealer, then just add filters and rotate and it should definitely stay under $80. I would say take it to a local mechanic or other place, but local dealership can and should be just as cheap. I would try to find another one, or get a price to get done exactly whats on the list. They inspect most of those items in the multi-point inspection they do.

i hate dealers when they recommend services you don't need. Coolant drain and brake fluid flush...Pretty sure the coolant flush isn't till 100k or over, and I have never done brake fluid and I'm over 75k miles (manual never called for it).

[JMSinMD]

Agreed, as a former Toyota service advisor the only thing the 30k, 60k, etc benefited was the dealership and its associates. I sold them but always shook my head because the customer might be getting $80 worth of real work to the car, the rest is just checking, which a good technician should do in the first place, regardless of if you're in for a service or not.

BTW if you can drive a car you can change both filters, I'd say 15 minutes for both.

[JMSinMD]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

Pretty sure the coolant flush isn't till 100k or over, and I have never done brake fluid and I'm over 75k miles (manual never called for it).

Just an FYI, for example in my Sequoia Toyota recommends the first coolant change at 100k but then every 50k after that. I think they are trying to sell the fact that they are cheap to maintain by stretching intervals. If you go by the premise of following the manual you'd never change the brake fluid either.

I personally flush out every fluid every 45k. Dealership recommends 30k which by 90k would equal x 3. Every 45k by 90k equals 2 complete changes at about $400-$450 a pop.

[JMSinMD]

BTW this is the spreadsheet I made for our HL maintenance. I'm aggressive with the alignments since I get them unlimited, if I was paying for each one I'd stick to a 12k-15k interval. I also like to balance every 5k, I'd probably stick to that even if it wasn't unlimited, I hate tire vibration.

Only other change is if you're using a stock air filter change it every 15k along with cabin air filter.

[FlyV]

Thanks people. I will not do the 30k service at the Toyota dealership. I think I will save that money and apply that towards a new set of tires. I have scheduled my 30k service at a local repair shop for this Friday for only $181 (tax included).
I might buy toyota air and cabin filters and take with me......just to have the genuine toyota parts installed.

[TrailDust]

Great, glad to hear it!

[Paul3637]

Originally Posted by FlyV

Thanks people. I will not do the 30k service at the Toyota dealership. I think I will save that money and apply that towards a new set of tires. I have scheduled my 30k service at a local repair shop for this Friday for only $181 (tax included).
I might buy toyota air and cabin filters and take with me......just to have the genuine toyota parts installed.

Even $181 seens high.

Originally Posted by JMSinMD

Agreed, as a former Toyota service advisor the only thing the 30k, 60k, etc benefited was the dealership and its associates. I sold them but always shook my head because the customer might be getting $80 worth of real work to the car, the rest is just checking, which a good technician should do in the first place, regardless of if you're in for a service or not.

BTW if you can drive a car you can change both filters, I'd say 15 minutes for both.

That's about right but if you add wiper blades maybe just over $100.

WOW - My son lives near Plano -- in McKinney TX. Those dealers in your area must have some kind of racket going on. Both Toyota of McKinney & Toyota of Plano have totally different whako service website designs that don't post prices.

Both Olathe Toyota & Bob Tyler Toyota where I have taken my car post prices !!!! Albeit a Camry V6, when I go to either website and put in AWD Highlander V6 .... 30K prices are identical. $35 for oil change, $20 for air filter & $20 for wiper blade inserts. Only rip off is cabin filter at $45 which you can do yourself for $20 with the best Fram "fresh breeze"

I do a 30k service every 20k miles. I paid about $300 at 40K at dealer - but that included about $120 for an 84 month battery (preventative due to Florida heat) so about $180 at the dealer for 5W30 Mobil 1 synthetic and wiper blades in addition to recommended service.

http://s586.photobucket.com/albums/s...40KMaintp2.jpg

That $540 you were quoted is about the worst case of rip off yet !!!!!!!

Not sure if this will work but when I put in Highlander AWD (my ex has one and loves it):
http://bobtylertoyota.com/Specials-Service.aspx

Good luck !!!!

[FlyV]

You're so right about Toyota of Plano and Toyota of Mckinney. I have no intention of ever going to either of them even though they're both some 10 minutes from my house. Vandergrief Toyota in Arlington,TX is close to my job and I can always go there for oil change. Their prices are posted online and they do have coupons.

[JMSinMD]

It's a shame dealerships are so greedy. There's enough money to be made with honest work and the business that will grow long term because of it is more worthwhile than short term gains made by 'stealerships.' They truly are a black eye to Toyota yet as long as the $$ rolls in, Toyota could literally care less.

I'd say 95% of the techs I have worked with/managed in the past are the stereotypical 'grease monkeys.' A lot of them seemed to have chips on their shoulders, possibly that they got stuck in a dead end job and take it out on those that are fortunate enough to be able to afford to go to the dealer.

There was one whose repair orders were identical to each other, I one time told him he should just photocopy a stack and save himself the time. Before the vehicle even hit the rack/hood was open he'd have 20 recommendations. He was a strong tech who was very knowledgeable but too greedy, I sold his repair work and let him starve when it came to his 'recommendation' work. I wasn't going to have my name associated with his nonsense.

[brainpause]

I went back and looked at records for our '08's 30k service. For $274 at a dealer, I got engine air filter, oil/filter change, fuel system kit, PCV valve, Wynn's Supreme Plus oil additive, injectors and throttle body service. I told them I do my own cabin air filter. Yeah, I know the engine air filter is even easier, but it was still in warranty.

Larry

[novs25]

Where can purchase the air filter and in cabin air filter? I too got a high quote from my local dealership.

[sweeneyp]

if you don't want to use dealers:
walmart, autozone, advance autoparts etc.. for generic ones

there are online toyota part sellers (trdsparks, toyotapartscheap, etc...) that sell OEM parts online (cheaper than dealer, more than generic)

I've always used the generic filters with no ill-effects

[JMSinMD]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

if you don't want to use dealers:
walmart, autozone, advance autoparts etc.. for generic ones

there are online toyota part sellers (trdsparks, toyotapartscheap, etc...) that sell OEM parts online (cheaper than dealer, more than generic)

I've always used the generic filters with no ill-effects

Agreed, Toyota doesn't make any filters they just stamp their name on whichever brand allows them to make the most profit off of them.

The only filter that I wouldn't buy generic/cheap is oil filter, cabin filter, engine air filter buy generic or stick a K&N under the hood and wash it every 30k (as recommended by K&N) and it'll pay for itself in savings.